did you believe,« asked the aroused Antiquary, »did you absolutely
believe that stuff of Macpherson's to be really ancient, you simple boy?«
    »Believe it, sir? - how could I but believe it, when I have heard the songs
sung from my infancy?«
    »But not the same as Macpherson's English Ossian - you're not absurd enough
to say that, I hope?« said the Antiquary, his brow darkening with wrath.
    But Hector stoutly abode the storm; like many a sturdy Celt, he imagined the
honour of his country and native language connected with the authenticity of
these popular poems, and would have fought knee-deep, or forfeited life and
land, rather than have given up a line of them. He therefore undauntedly
maintained, that Rory M'Alpin could repeat the whole book from one end to
another; - and it was only upon cross-examination that he explained an assertion
so general, by adding »At least, if he was allowed whisky enough, he could
repeat as long as anybody would hearken to him.«
    »Ay, ay,« said the Antiquary; »and that, I suppose, was not very long.«
    »Why, we had our duty, sir, to attend to, and could not sit listening all
night to a piper.«
    »But do you recollect, now,« said Oldbuck, setting his teeth firmly
together, and speaking without opening them, which was his custom when
contradicted - »Do you recollect, now, any of these verses you thought so
beautiful and interesting - being a capital judge, no doubt, of such things?«
    »I don't pretend to much skill, uncle; but it's not very reasonable to be
angry with me for admiring the antiquities of my own country more than those of
the Harolds, Harfagers, and Hacos you are so fond of.«
    »Why, these, sir - these mighty and unconquered Goths - were your ancestors!
The bare-breeched Celts whom they subdued, and suffered only to exist, like a
fearful people, in the crevices of the rocks, were but their Mancipia and
Serfs!«
    Hector's brow now grew red in his turn. »Sir,« he said, »I don't understand
the meaning of Mancipia and Serfs, but I conceive that such names are very
improperly applied to Scotch Highlanders: no man but my mother's brother dared
to have used such language in my presence; and I pray you will observe, that I
consider it